Rick Wolf and Peter Scherman (that’s Rick on the left and Peter on the right) are both experienced speakers who have presented on a range of innkeeping related topics at the state, regional, and national level. They gather and analyze research for the Innkeeping industry and welcome the opportunity to share it with others. Contact Us

Posts Tagged ‘Camden Maine’

Facebook 2014. Let’s take a look at what some marketing gurus are saying about Facebook. What is the outlook for Facebook 2014 for your bed and breakfast business? In an article by Daniel Edward Craig in a recent Hotel Marketing newsletter. Is Facebook a sales, marketing or customer service channel? Good question. I have taken some quotes from the article that I found interesting and may give some insight into how Facebook 2014 could become more powerful and profitable for your B&B.

Engaging Your Fans

“The real power behind Facebook is its sharing features. A comment is worth seven times more than a like, and a share is worth 13 more times than a like.” The article’s suggestion is to…”Hold an onsite contest such as asking a guest to post a selfie or a photo of the view from their room or to vote for the best local bars, restaurant.” I would also add to that list. i.e. favorite ski trail, museum exhibit, or hiking trail. The list could be endless. This type of activity engages the guests to share their experiences.

“More travelers are using Facebook to share feedback and make inquiries directly with hotels. Facebook can be a channel for helping guests to plan their stay, for connecting with them onsite and for keeping in touch post-stay.” The key here is ‘helping guests plan their stay’.

Example: Wisconsin’s Apostle Islands National Lakeshore became a tourist destination as Lake Superior was frozen over enough this winter for people to walk the ice caves. The Pinehurst Inn in Bayfield WI kept their FB followers informed through posts on the opening and the conditions. The event increased tourism and guests flocked to the Pinehurst Inn.

The Pinehurst Inn kept their guests informed and the post was shared

Facebook as a Marketing Channel

“…people go to Facebook to socialize, not plan trips.” This sounds like a contradiction from the advice just mentioned but the article goes on to say…”the path to purchase is increasingly social, and more customers are checking out lodging Facebook pages and inquiring with friends before making booking decisions.” If you post current events (like the example of Pinehurst Inn), activities, new restaurant openings, culinary classes, added amenities, guestroom makeovers, anything that will spur interest and help them make a decision to book with you.

Another example of engaging (pun to follow) your FB followers. From Lookout Point Lakeside Inn, Hot Springs, Arkansas. ‘Mathematicians, we have an exciting announcement! We are giving away a FREE Sapphire Elopement to take place on Pi Day (March 14, 2014)! Check out our blog for more details on how to win this intimate ceremony: http://lookoutpointinn.com/blog. If you recall it was mentioned in the article that ‘promotional posts get low engagement rates’. But the Lookout Point Inn has a strong wedding business. Couples looking for a wedding venue for their elopement would find this giveaway offering on Facebook, their blog, their website as well as local press and a popular national bed and breakfast blog. The word got out. This activity on all these marketing channels had the opportunity to engage and then hopefully get shared.

“So it seems that a well-managed presence on Facebook 2014 can be a modest hybrid of all three channels: marketing, guest service, even revenue. The key is to stay disciplined, to make satisfaction the priority.” I think the key word here is discipline. Post often. Encourage comments and respond to them. Engage in the conversation like you would at any social event. Have an FB party!

The Norumbega Inn in Camden Maine is now receiving guests. The transfer of this grand ‘Stone Castle by the Sea’ bed and breakfast to Susan Walser and Chef Phil Crispo took place just a few months ago.

Sue Walser or Vanna ?

After a lot of cleaning, scraping, wall removals, landscaping and just general sweat equity the Inn opened to paying guests on Memorial Day weekend. The B&B Team was pleased to be a part of this transfer and we could not be more thrilled! Quoting directly from Sue and Phil, “We are proud and honored to renovate the castle, bringing its heart and soul back to life.” Sue brings her extensive business and marketing skills to Camden and Phil was recently an instructor with the Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park New York. He brings many more past accolades and culinary experience to the table and the future looks bright with their passion for food and this lodging property extraordinaire.

Chef Phil Crispo and Innkeeper

The culinary travel draw for the Norumbega Inn will be huge. Sue and Phil will initially offer dinner for inn guests and breakfasts to awake your soul but will soon expand with the offering of cooking classes and special catered events . All of which will ‘Complete the Package’. By the way this is Phil’s quote. We liked it so much we wrote it down on a card and it sits on Rick’s desk.

This does not literally mean, wrapping up a gift in a box and tying it with a pretty bow, but it does mean this figuratively. The total package starts at the time a guest is greeted at your Inn and presented with your package. They open and view the contents then savor it, gather all the contents together and take it home with complete satisfaction and gratitude. That total package, lodging, dining with great service and attention to every last detail should be a WOW from beginning to end. That ‘completes the package’. The B&B Team hopes that many of you will be able to visit Sue and Phil and experience the complete package that awaits every guest at the Norumbega Inn.

Every day presents itself with the opportunity to create and present another beautiful package to your guests. What a gift that is.